Repeat drunken driver took a life after vow

Jackie and Randy Lee stand near a large photograph of their daughter Cara Lee taken a week before she was killed by a drunk driver in 2010. She died on Valentine's Day. The driver who killed her, Gustavo Vega, had more than twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system and was found guilty of second-degree murder. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Cara Lee’s parents can only hope she never saw the truck that killed her. Witnesses said the Toyota Tundra was going 70 mph when it ran a red light and slammed into the car she was in, embedding its license plate into the frame near where she was sitting.

Police declared Cara dead the moment they arrived at the scene. Later, when they found the driver of the truck hiding in some nearby apartments, they saw that his gums were bleeding from the force of the crash.

He also was drunk.

Cara's parents have shared their story again and again as ambassadors for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, reliving the worst moments of their lives in the hope that it will save others from going through what they have.

"I look at my life as being over without her," said her mother, Jackie Lee.

Around 20 people will die on California roads in the next few days in crashes that involve alcohol, if statistics from past New Year's holidays are a guide; close to 400 more will be injured. The holiday of champagne and midnight toasts also is the most consistently deadly holiday in California for alcohol-involved crashes.

As Jackie and Randy Lee of Santa Ana say now when they talk about Cara's death: It's all because someone wanted to drive and didn't think it could be his mother in the other car, his brother, his daughter. "You live your life around your children," Randy Lee said. "There's just us now."

'Mom, I love you'

Cara was their only child, 20 years old, still living at home in Santa Ana, still leaving little notes around the house for her parents. "Good morning, Mom, I love you." "Have a good day Daddy." Her mother still has a piece of paper that Cara slipped under the bedroom door when she was very little and hurt her finger: "An update on Cara's index finger. It still hurts."

Cara worked as a recreation leader for the city of Newport Beach, and the children adored her. She was studying part-time and wanted to work with autistic kids. Her good looks and bright smile won her car-modeling contracts on the side and a spot in a music video.

"She was just a happy-go-lucky little girl," said her father, who called her Pumpkin. "She just took you at face value," said her mother, who called her Baby Girl.

Cara went with friends to a Chinese New Year celebration in February 2010. Her parents didn't wait up; they knew the hum of the garage door would wake them up when she got home. Instead, a knock on the door shook them out of bed around 6:30 a.m.

Randy Lee shouted down the stairs: "Who is it?"

"Sheriff's Department."

The parents opened the door to a deputy and a deputy coroner, who asked them to sit down. "Cara was at a party ...," the deputy coroner began.

Jackie and Randy Lee stand near a large photograph of their daughter Cara Lee taken a week before she was killed by a drunk driver in 2010. She died on Valentine's Day. The driver who killed her, Gustavo Vega, had more than twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system and was found guilty of second-degree murder. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lee family, dad Randy, daughter Cara, 12, and mom Jackie posed for a family portrait. COURTESY OF THE LEE FAMILY
Since the accident that took the life of her daughter Cara, Jackie Lee has marked the 14th of each month to mark her passing. "Those are not good days," she said. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Cara Lee and her father, Randy Lee, posed for a photo at Randy's 52nd birthday gathering. COURTESY OF THE LEE FAMILY
Jackie and Randy Lee treasure the handmade qulit honoring their daughter Cara Lee that was created by children Cara took care of as a recreational leader for the city of Newport Beach. Randy Lee says his daughter was very caring and nurturing. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Cara Lee's co-workers left comforting words with this photo of the Newport Beach employee. Lee, who was 16 at the time this picture was taken, was an aspiring model. She was killed on Valentine's Day 2010 by drunken driver Gustavo Vega. COURTESY OF THE LEE FAMILY
Jackie Lee recalls a happy moment in the life of her daughter Cara Lee. Lee was killed by a drunken driver in 2010. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Jackie and Randy Lee treasure this photo of 3-month-old Cara. COURTESY OF THE LEE FAMILY
After Cara Lee's death on Valentine's Day, 2010, friend Helen Garcia drew a portrait of Lee. The 20 year old was killed by a drunken driver Gustavo Vega. COURTESY OF THE LEE FAMILY
In 2009, Cara Lee took a cellphone photo of herself with friend Danny Rice, a co-worker. She was killed by drunken driver Gustavo Vega on Valentine's Day 2010. Lee was a student at Orange Coast College. COURTESY OF THE LEE FAMILY
Randy and Jackie Lee recall the moments of anguish when they received word of their daughter Cara Lee's death. "When you lose a child, it's like a death sentence for the parents," Jackie said. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Cara Lee is sandwiched in a photo by sisters Colie, at left, and Sassy Andreas. They considered Cara their "sister" as well. COURTESY OF THE LEE FAMILY
After Cara Lee's death, a friend created this pencil drawing of Lee from a photograph of her. COURTESY OF THE LEE FAMILY
When Cara Lee was 9, she drew this for a friend named Jesus, who was in mourning. His grandmother had died. COURTESY OF THE LEE FAMILY
Gustavo Vega booking photo COURESTY OF ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE

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